When the ancient Polynesians invented surfing, they often used a paddle to help them navigate. Fast-forward a few millennia, and Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, finds itself trendy again. Part of its increasing popularity is that standing upright allows surfers to spot waves more easily and thus catch more of them, multiplying the fun factor. Paddling back to the wave becomes less of a strain as well. The ability to cruise along on flat inland water, surveying the sights, is another advantage. Finally, its a good core workout. If youre sold on the idea, schedule an intro SUP lesson, free with board and paddle rental, and you may find yourself riding the waves like a Polynesian king.More

Many of us remember coming home from our elementary schools with freshly glazed pinchpots, cups, or whatever else our young imaginations could conjure up. Saturday mornings at the Randall Museum can bring that memory back, or create a new one for the youngsters. Ceramics make great gifts — especially on Mothers' and Fathers' Day. Hop on board for the Randall's once-weekly class, and for $6 and two weeks to have your work fired and glazed, you'll have all the materials you need.More

Share

Latest in Calendar

Browse Best Of

Share

Latest in Best Of

In 2013, when Catharine Clark moved her eponymous gallery from 49 Geary to the Potrero Hill area, she gave herself more room to work with, including a dedicated media space that has shown indelible work by such artists as Shalo P ("The Bedroom Suite"), Nina Katchadourian ("In a Room Full of Strangers"), and Andy Diaz Hope and Jon Bernson ("Beautification Machines").

There's no secret to helping you focus better — unless you count Adderall — but studies have shown that listening to music before or while performing a task can improve attention, memory, and even your ability to perform mental math.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Juvenile, numbskulled, pointless, banal, outrageous -- M.I.A. flipping the bird at this year's Super Bowl halftime show might have been all or none of those things, depending on whom you ask, but it was one thing above all: A surefire plot to join the ranks of the middle-finger-flashing musical elite.

The group -- Those We Love Who Have Flipped Off America -- includes some of the greatest musicians ever, Johnny Cash, Iggy Pop, Kurt Cobain, and Tupac Shakur among them. So in extending her middle finger toward a half-drunk and impressionable nation, Maya A. was really just flashing the passport required for entry into the pantheon of pop musicians.

We can't really blame her for that. But how did her efforts compare to those of her predecessors? Let's look back at some famous musicians' public flip-offs, plus M.I.A.'s contribution, and find out.

Impact: Reckless desire for self-expression implied by raised middle fingers is muddled by image of tape over mouth. Maybe he could've used those fingers to pull off the tape and say something more articulate? "I don't give a fuck" is boring and obviously untrue. And that look in his eye could be crazed aggression, but it could also be sleepiness.

The finger: Left middle, given full arm extension and raised up to eye level.

Subtext: "You better watch the fuck out, and if you don't, I'm coming after you."

Impact: Greatly enhanced by confrontational body language (chin out, slight lip-bite, and arm raised high), and the general badassness of being the leader of Public Enemy.

Rating: 82 percent

The artist: Billie Joe Armstrong.

The finger: Left middle, backed by a silly, wide-eyed smirk.

Subtext: "I'm a kooky individual, and I think saying "fuck you" with a raised middle finger is funny, but you and I both know that I don't really mean to tell you to fuck off. Did you know my album is now a musical on Broadway?"

Like us on Facebook

Slideshows

Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"